Project Director, Strengthening Opportunities for Adaptive Response (SOAR)

**This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

Job Summary:

You will provide overall leadership, management, and technical oversight of the Strengthening Opportunities for Adaptive Response (SOAR) Project advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and implement all activities throughout relevant project cycles – project start-up, implementation and close-out - to ensure efficient and effective implementation in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and best industry practices. Ensure project team and partner staff use the appropriate systems and tools.
• Provide strategic direction and management of all aspects of the SOAR project. Ensure that project results are achieved, the sustainability strategy is successfully realized, and that gender and social inclusion are incorporated into all activities. Lead project team meetings with emphasis on using data for monitoring and adaptive management. Lead timely and high-quality project reporting.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Provide coaching and accompaniment to field staff. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Work in close coordination with SOAR Collaborators and Partners in FSM and grow SOAR’s network of climate resilience relationships to set the stage for Collaborative’s scaling beyond the 3-year timeline. Coordinate and strengthen relationships with partner organizations, including by planning meetings, workshops, and other learning and collaboration events.
• Effectively represent CRS in different networks and forums in FSM, and keep CRS updated on humanitarian needs, gaps, opportunities, and challenges. Work closely with SOAR governmental and local and regional non-governmental collaborators to ensure project sustainability.
• Manage donor relationships in coordination with CRS Country Manager, FSM and Pacific Outreach.
• Oversee SOAR Project Operations and provide supervision and capacity strengthening to ensure high project management quality standards Including but not limited to: Ensure timely and appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources. Provide support and capacity building to operations staff to oversee upkeep and maintenance of office and CRS inventory. Ensure appropriate and on time procurement following CRS policy and procedures and provide hands on support to staff to process documentation for on time payment to vendor. Work closely with teams in Yap and Chuuk offices and Finance teams to ensure that payments are made on time to the vendors.
• Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to CRS agency and NOAA CRRC network knowledge management agenda. Ensure integration of innovations and best practices.
• Create and maintain positive and conducive conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing ideas, solutions, and difficulties and facilitate responses. Identity workforce development for project staff, partners, and project participants, and ensure the design and delivery of high-quality training and technical assistance. Ensure technical assistance and capacity strengthening for staff and partners to enhance program quality and impact.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound decisions and offer innovative solutions.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented management.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups. Proven ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write donor-quality reports. Able to communicate feedback, decisions, and results in a respectful, timely, and sensitive manner to diverse audiences. Strong presentation skills. Able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented
• Team leadership abilities with diverse/ multi-disciplinary teams. Coaching skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project management experience in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation is highly desirable.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• MEAL skills and experience preferred.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.
• Technical experience in geo-spatial modeling tools and systems highly valued
• Experience working in coordination with government bodies at multiple levels (state, municipal)
• Experience implementing development programming in the Pacific region, particularly in remote, insular areas.
• Experience in managing specifically US-government public donor funds.

Required Languages - Oral and written proficiency in English is required

Travel - This position is based in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia, with regular travel to project sites. Must be willing and able to travel (predominantly by plane, car, and boat) up to 50%.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yap and Chuuk State project teams (details to be determined)

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Program Quality Technical Lead (CRS PM II – PQ for FSM and Pacific Outreach), Country Manager, FSM and Pacific Outreach, Yap and Chuuk – based SOAR Project programming and operations teams, Technical Advisors and Operations Staff at CRS Pacific Sub-Regional and Regional Offices

External: SOAR Core Steering Committee Members (FSM State Disaster Agencies in Yap and Chuuk*,* Yap State Government, Chuuk State Government, Department of Agriculture, EPA, Micronesia Red Cross Society, community leadership, traditional leadership, INGOs), Digital Earth Pacific, Pacific Clusters, The Pacific Community (SPC), Pacific Climate Change Centre (SPREP), Pacific Risk Management ‘Ohana (PRiMO), Donor representatives as well as members and representatives of NOAA’s wider CRRC Network (mostly outside of FSM)

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in international development, International Relations or a related field (Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation, Public Administration, Nonprofit management) required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Work or education technical experience in Climate Change Adaptation.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects required, preferably with an international NGO.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Note: All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.

CRS's talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer